ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's top national security and foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz, will represent the country in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tajikistan being held on Sept. 11-12, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The SCO, comprising six member states, five observers and three dialogue partners, was established in June 2001.

Special:2014 SCO summit

Pakistan currently enjoys the status of observer and is actively involved in diplomatic efforts to get SCO's full membership.

"As an observer of the SCO, Pakistan has been making substantive contributions for regional peace, security and development in SCO Heads of State Council and Heads of Government Council meetings," the Foreign Ministry said.

The adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, is leading Pakistan's delegation to represent the country at the summit.

The adviser, during his visit, will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

"It is a matter of satisfaction that Pakistan's request for membership of SCO is under active consideration of SCO members," a Foreign Ministry statement said on the eve of the summit.

SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India, Iran and Pakistan were admitted as observers at the 2005 Astana Summit.

The Tashkent SCO Summit in June 2010 had lifted the moratorium on new membership, paving the way for expansion of the grouping.